Hi, I'm new to this site, and it seems like almost all of my chainsaw questions has showed up here in google searches, so I figured I'd come here and ask a few questions...as you guys seem to know your stuff.
I basically have just got into oil field surveying about 10 months ago, and recently they've put me through a chainsaw bucking/basic falling (allowed to cut up to 6" diameter) safety course.
So now that I've got my safety ticket and I'm in better shape than some of my counterparts, I'm getting drafted for these cutting jobs.
I basically have started out with a company saw: an old husky 272. It's a great saw and has cut everything I needed to cut so far without any problems. It's not too heavy, and starts on the first pull every time.
My only complaints is that maintaining it seems to be a challenge for me, and I burn through gas/bar chain oil that I thought I would. I usually run out after 1.5 hours. (I don't really stop)
I never know how tight I need the chain to be. I was told that if I pull on the chain at the center, the tension should not allow the chain to come off the bar until after the 3rd cutting link. I was also told that if the chain is slightly moving while idleing, that it's too tight? Sound right?
Anyways, my company (and most surveying companies) will pay us to run our own saws. My company will pay me an additional $11/hr if I use my own, so I really can see it being profitable. It just seems like such a waste for me to be earning my company that much more money for me to be doing basically a different profession.
My questions:
-For $11 more per hour, is it worth it for me to run my own saw? Will maintenance cost and initial investment pay off? How much money do you find you pour into these things?
-Do you guys use camelbaks while cutting? I find I'm sweating up a storm doing it (especially while cutting through muskeg/bog) and because I move about 1/4 mile every 2-3 hours, it's a pain to go back to bump up supplies.
-Pants: Chaps or pants? I can really see how chaps are causing me to overheat. It could just be the company issued ones are too thick? Are there thiner chaps out there that don't sacrafice protection? I mean, these suckers are about a half inch thick. It's a bit of a dilemma for me, because it gets really cold here in the winter (which chaps would be great). -35 degrees celcius was a pretty common temperature for me this past winter. I think my solution is probably just to get both. What are your experiences with chaps vs pants?
-Saw to buy: I will mostly be cutting down black spruce and poplar trees here in Alberta. Largest spruce/poplar seem to get up to 16-18". The 272 has been more than up for the job, but price wise the 372 is just out of my range. I have seen a husky 365 (65cc) that is basically a slightly weaker (but newer) version of my 272. I think that would be a solid buy at 800. But, if I go out of my way, I can get a stihl 441 for the same price, which is newer and matches the power of the 272. I hear it's a heavier saw though, and because I cut line with a lot of other gear, it may just be overkill for what I do. Any thoughts?
-Any tips/links to how to handle hazard/awkward trees? The course was great at teaching me how to buck and trim trees fine. It also showed me how to properly aim where the tree will fall with my notches, but there didn't seem to be any advice on tricky trees that I'll come across: IE: trees that are hung up on other trees, ones that have more than one "tree" sharing a stump; How to cut trees in windthrows, wedging techniques, etc. Do you guys have any tips or resources that you know I may find helpful? (Videos, posts etc)
I know my course only calls for smaller trees, but I don't think it's safe to keep me in the dark on those subjects.
I am a sponge to all feedback guys. Your experience will help with my safety. Thanks for reading this much.
I basically have just got into oil field surveying about 10 months ago, and recently they've put me through a chainsaw bucking/basic falling (allowed to cut up to 6" diameter) safety course.
So now that I've got my safety ticket and I'm in better shape than some of my counterparts, I'm getting drafted for these cutting jobs.
I basically have started out with a company saw: an old husky 272. It's a great saw and has cut everything I needed to cut so far without any problems. It's not too heavy, and starts on the first pull every time.
My only complaints is that maintaining it seems to be a challenge for me, and I burn through gas/bar chain oil that I thought I would. I usually run out after 1.5 hours. (I don't really stop)
I never know how tight I need the chain to be. I was told that if I pull on the chain at the center, the tension should not allow the chain to come off the bar until after the 3rd cutting link. I was also told that if the chain is slightly moving while idleing, that it's too tight? Sound right?
Anyways, my company (and most surveying companies) will pay us to run our own saws. My company will pay me an additional $11/hr if I use my own, so I really can see it being profitable. It just seems like such a waste for me to be earning my company that much more money for me to be doing basically a different profession.
My questions:
-For $11 more per hour, is it worth it for me to run my own saw? Will maintenance cost and initial investment pay off? How much money do you find you pour into these things?
-Do you guys use camelbaks while cutting? I find I'm sweating up a storm doing it (especially while cutting through muskeg/bog) and because I move about 1/4 mile every 2-3 hours, it's a pain to go back to bump up supplies.
-Pants: Chaps or pants? I can really see how chaps are causing me to overheat. It could just be the company issued ones are too thick? Are there thiner chaps out there that don't sacrafice protection? I mean, these suckers are about a half inch thick. It's a bit of a dilemma for me, because it gets really cold here in the winter (which chaps would be great). -35 degrees celcius was a pretty common temperature for me this past winter. I think my solution is probably just to get both. What are your experiences with chaps vs pants?
-Saw to buy: I will mostly be cutting down black spruce and poplar trees here in Alberta. Largest spruce/poplar seem to get up to 16-18". The 272 has been more than up for the job, but price wise the 372 is just out of my range. I have seen a husky 365 (65cc) that is basically a slightly weaker (but newer) version of my 272. I think that would be a solid buy at 800. But, if I go out of my way, I can get a stihl 441 for the same price, which is newer and matches the power of the 272. I hear it's a heavier saw though, and because I cut line with a lot of other gear, it may just be overkill for what I do. Any thoughts?
-Any tips/links to how to handle hazard/awkward trees? The course was great at teaching me how to buck and trim trees fine. It also showed me how to properly aim where the tree will fall with my notches, but there didn't seem to be any advice on tricky trees that I'll come across: IE: trees that are hung up on other trees, ones that have more than one "tree" sharing a stump; How to cut trees in windthrows, wedging techniques, etc. Do you guys have any tips or resources that you know I may find helpful? (Videos, posts etc)
I know my course only calls for smaller trees, but I don't think it's safe to keep me in the dark on those subjects.
I am a sponge to all feedback guys. Your experience will help with my safety. Thanks for reading this much.